March

I'm not sure how I'll get everything done next month.

Phew.

Sometimes, I want to stop talking to God. But I have no one else to turn to....

Another thought from M

"We spend so much time thinking and doing things that are challenging."

"How much of that can a human being stand?"

What a great question.

But, God.

On another note, my phone seems to have trouble reading or accessing the SD card. I have my eye on a new phone that's coming out in a few months. I hope I won't need to change phones until that's out!

The stuff of life. 

quotable quotes

Friend: "I can't be miserable in life and in writing."

But what's the solution?

Thankful for good teachers who are realistic about life and the word

TGIF

What a week.


God sightings:


- there was a tense moment at CG, but by the end of the evening, God had brought reconciliation

- mutual support during sharing at CG. Being vulnerable

- further revelation of God's unasked for but much needed provision over the years, and over many years

- supportive meetings with more senior colleagues


Needs:


- need for continued wisdom to know how to interact with colleagues. I'm here not to get my way but to participate in the work God is already doing, and that means being a blessing

- need for more publications

- need for faith that God will give me answers at the right time, and for patience until the answers come


Hope:


- we endure because when we wait, we respond to God's promises that He will make all things right

- we live with imperfections because we trust that God will show up in the imperfections. We are weak, but He is strong

Again, on letting go

From the son of a drug addict to a teaching pastor at one of the biggest English speaking churches in HK.

This is God's work. 

The darnedest things

Life coach: So maybe you like people after all.

Me: I don't know if I would go so far as to say that. It's on the table.  But it's all the way on the other end.

There's a name we can call on

Another dinner

Cheering on the Chinese translation team

Hk style homey food

Thankful for friends AND their families.

Your rod and your staff, they comfort me

Nutty

Instead of giving us a full day of on CNY eve, some genius who fixes the holidays that we should only have a 1/2 day on the Monday of CNY holiday--which means I have to teach today--and give us next Monday off. 

I hope he or she is happy about this.

UGH

Writing involves so much anguish and pain. 

Sometimes I'm not sure it's worth it. Actually, most times I wonder if this is really worth it.

other worlds

Boss DP put me on a hiring committee for an office position (as opposed to a faculty position), and it was kinda fun for me because I wasn't in the hot seat. It's so great to be able to watch and learn knowing that I can only benefit from the process.

But it was also eye-opening to realize that I'm a lot more naive and inexperienced than I would like to admit. The world can be a hard place.

Still, I'm guessing that some things do separate the stronger candidates from the weaker ones: Confidence, Energy, and Friendliness.

Even when some of the answers were a little dull or confusing, the interviewee's demeanor distracted us from the content of what she was saying.

How to do church

Another good sermon in a series on letting go

1) Let go of your reputation

2) Let go of your future (Egypt?! No, Bethlehem!!)

3) Let go of the results


Poor Joe. But God has eternity to make it up to him.

What does it mean to let go?

Judah Smith:

- Let go of finding God (God is the one who finds us)

- Let go of fighting sin (we can't -- but Jesus can, so we seek shelter in Him)



Matthew 10:39

Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

Prophetic message from a friend

I've been reading Mark. Read through chapter 1 this morning, and was struck by repeated occurrences of the motif of identity. Christ calling James and John, Simon and Andrew away from their lives in which they might have defined themselves by profession (as fishermen) or by familial relationship (vis-a-vis the father). Christ rebuking the demon-possessed man who cried out, "What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth?" (my italics; it seems he's identifying with the unclean spirit) and commanding, "Come out of him!" (Christ distinguishes between the spirit and the man). Jesus being recognized and affirmed particularly by God the Father: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased."

I've been thinking about how following Christ necessitates a massive transformation of identity. Not sure how God is doing that in you in this season, but I trust that He is at work. Will continue to be in prayer for you.

No fear

As I reflect on the past, I realized that God started to provide long before I knew how to pray. God was always in this and had my good in mind even before I knew Him.

Walking in faith still isn't easy for me. This morning, I just want to tell God, "No more, please. No more challenges and tests. I just want to be happy." 

But am I idolizing happiness?

It's hard but I need to remember that money is just money. Work is just work. At the end of the day, what is money and work to God? Tools. 

It was only a week but I feel like I lived a different life.

Family trip

From -3 to 33

Guatemalan empanada

It's like a soft biscuit with a sweet custard filling. I prefer Argentine empanadas.

Chicago deep dish pizza

Meh.

This year, again, God has answered prayers I didn't know how to pray.

Here's a prayer for next year, "Father, teach me to worship."

Gifts

[11:51 PM, 12/23/2018] ___: Ohh.. you don’t believe you’re worth the time and effort

[11:51 PM, 12/23/2018] ___: You’re a jewel

[11:51 PM, 12/23/2018] ___: 💎

[11:52 PM, 12/23/2018] Zee: Lol. Of course you would say that.

[11:52 PM, 12/23/2018] ___: A true friend if one is lucky enough

[11:52 PM, 12/23/2018] ___: Yah.. it’s hard to earn your trust

[11:53 PM, 12/23/2018] ___: So being considered a friend by you is an honour

[11:53 PM, 12/23/2018] ___: I must have done one thing right along the way

[11:53 PM, 12/23/2018] Zee: Many things right over many years

JC Ryle on the wise men and faith

“The conduct of the wise men is a striking example of faith. They believed in Christ when they had never seen Him – but that was not all. They believed in Him when the Scribes and Pharisees were unbelieving – but that again was not all. They believed in Him when they saw Him a little infant on Mary’s knee, and worshiped Him as a king. This was the crowning point of their faith. They saw no miracles to convince them. They heard no teaching to persuade them. They beheld no signs of divinity and greatness to overawe them. They saw nothing but a new-born infant, helpless and weak, and needing a mother’s care like any one of ourselves. And yet when they saw that infant, they believed that they saw the divine Savior of the world. ‘They fell down and worshiped Him.’

We read of no greater faith than this in the whole volume of the Bible. It is a faith that deserves to be placed side by side with that of the penitent thief. The thief saw one dying the death of a criminal, and yet prayed to Him and ‘called Him Lord.’ The wise men saw a new-born babe on the lap of a poor woman, and yet worshiped Him and confessed that He was Christ. Blessed indeed are those that can believe in this fashion!”